Math test today

Thursday, October 5, 2023

My friend, Maren, brought me flowers and presents last night because I was sad. Wow. I was feeling pretty special and spoiled after that. Today I was doing math in middle school. During a couple hours, I was proctoring a test. Here’s how it went:

What should I do here?
What do you think you should do there?
Multiply then add the 16 and the 5.
Why?
Because I should multiply first and then add.
Are you sure?
Um. Yes. I think so.
Why are you asking me what to do then?

Am I doing this right?
Am I correcting your test while you are taking it?
No.

Am I doing this right?
Am I correcting your test while you are taking it?
No.
Do you think you are doing it right?
I’m following the PEMDAS.
Should you be?
Yes, I guess so.
We’re done.

I’m just going to add the 11x and the 3x and then leave it because I don’t know what x is.
Is that a question?

Can my answer be a negative number?
What do think?
Yes.
Go away.

If I do it this way I get a reaaallllly big number.
Are big numbers not allowed?
I guess so. But maybe they wouldn’t give us such big numbers on a test.
I don’t know the answer to that question, because I haven’t done it. Could be right, could be wrong. Why don’t you check your steps?
****goes away**** comes back
It’s not a big number. I didn’t do the steps in the right order.
Or did you? And it IS a big number?
MRS. THOMPSON!

Can you tell me anything about the answer to this question?
It is not orange or Argentina.
This is a math test.
I know. This is a math class.
You are not helpful.
Are you kidding? I just knocked out two potential answers for you.

If it’s a negative 4 does that make it minus?
Do you think it should be minus or should you add it?
Why would I add it instead of minus-ing it?
I think you should answer your own questions.

Mrs. Thompson, you never answer any of my questions, but you make me feel better.

I guess that’s why you go.